This is particularly true of the safeties, who are under more pressure than anyone else whenever someone like Griffin gets out of the pocket and continues to look down the field.

"Same thing as [Seattle Seahawks quarterback] Russell Wilson," Nate Allen said. "You obviously have to plaster and grab a guy and follow him wherever he goes, because it turns into sandlot football. It's a tough deal, but something you've got to be disciplined about."

Wilson's scrambling and flat-out running ability was the difference in Seattle's 24-14 win over the Eagles on Dec. 7.

The Redskins' prized first-round draft pick in 2012, Griffin began this season as the starter before an ankle injury knocked him out in Week 2. In the meantime, rookie head coach Jay Gruden became so enamored with Kirk Cousins that it looked like Cousins would keep the job. But nine interceptions in six games landed him on the bench in favor of Colt McCoy.

McCoy then suffered a neck injury that has Gruden turning back to Griffin in an effort to save the sinking Edmund Fitzgerald that is the 2014 Redskins (3-11).

The relationship between Gruden and Griffin, who was brought in by Gruden's predecessor, Mike Shanahan, has reached the point where it is doubtful both could be in the same place next year.

Actually, given the disconnect that has developed, it doesn't even seem like they're in the same place now.

Again, none of that matters to the Eagles safeties, who know they can be made to look bad when Griffin is on his game.

And whatever Griffin has done to fall out of favor, such as it certainly hasn't been from throwing it to the other team. He has tossed just three interceptions in 150 attempts and is completing nearly 70 percent (69.3) of his throws. The problem is that he has thrown just three TDs. But he has run for 146 yards and 5.4 yards per pop.

"They have some big receivers and tight ends who can get open and stretch the field," Malcolm Jenkins said. "And [Griffin has] a big arm. So if he does get out of the pocket and he's able to set his feet, he can get it down the field."

Allen says there's no real way to practice against it.

"It's not really a technique or anything," he said. "You just grab the guy closest to you and plaster him."

This will be the Eagles' first game against Griffin since last season.

"That's a difficulty right now," defensive coordinator Billy Davis said. "There are three quarterbacks that they've used all year, and they all have a little bit different personality to them. The offense that came at us with Kirk Cousins is going to be different than what RG III has. Colt McCoy was somewhere in between those two quarterbacks.

"We've got to study hard on the RG III offense and the things that they've done with him to get ready for him. He's still a dynamic player. He really looked like he benefited from a little bit of perspective in taking a step back and looking at it. He came out there with a little more confidence and that old swagger you saw. He ran the ball more aggressively, he put the ball on the money, he threw the ball a little more accurately, and it looked like he had a better understanding. So I think he has gained a little bit of perspective from sitting back and watching for a little bit."

Bottom line: The Eagles will be looking at a much different Redskins offense than what they faced the first time, and they have one less day than normal to get ready.

"I think he's comparable [to what he was as the NFL offensive rookie of the year in 2012]," Davis said. "If you watched him jump in that Giants game [last week], he was flying around. He looked like he was energetic about his runs and it looked like a different guy.

"He had some time to rest, and had some time to heal. I think he's getting closer to what he once was than what he had been lately with all the controversy surrounding him."